Well, well... In Madrid there is no beach and we are in July, under the heat of the asphalt. But we have our own surf waves like those in Uluwatu, Bali. A axe-throwing arena to release stress like Vikings. Also a place where acrobats, riders, skaters, snowboarders, rollers, or parkourists practice tricks. A climbing wall to climb without mountains. The deepest pool in Spain for diving. And now, the first batting simulator in Europe. All of this, without leaving Alcorcón. In the sports-oriented X-Madrid shopping center: the great relief for locals.
The latest and original recently opened venue is Hitball, the work of Fernando Enrique Rodríguez (Caracas, January 24, 1982), the restless entrepreneur who introduced Venezuelan tequeños at Mercadona. "Well, it wasn't thanks to me, but to the effort of many people who made that great challenge possible that started some years ago," he corrects, although he contributed to making it happen.
He arrived in Spain 16 years ago: "A country that has offered me incredible growth opportunities," he says. And he came for love. "My girlfriend, now wife and mother of my daughters, is from a Spanish family and it was the most suitable destination when we decided to emigrate." With her and his sister Tamara, he shared Antojos Araguaney, the first family venture, in 2008. They had only 5,000 euros when they introduced Venezuelan gastronomy at this restaurant.
Together, they managed to create a space that not only offered high-quality food but also conveyed warmth and hospitality of their culture. It became a culinary embassy of their home country. "With a lot of effort, we managed to establish Spain's first tequeños factory. At the end of 2019, it was mostly acquired by one of Venezuela's largest private companies," he recalls. He continued working with them as the business's general manager in Europe until September 2023. "Currently, I serve as the chairman of their board of directors."
But as a big baseball enthusiast, this naturally restless individual decided to provide a realistic batting experience with the most advanced technology for sports training. "I really enjoy starting new ventures and creating new concepts. The feedback is amazing: everyone who tries it loves it. It's a great plan with family, friends, or to celebrate birthdays. You come to play, you can eat and have some beers." In fact, as he speaks, he is constantly needed in these booth-like structures. "They are pitching machines adapted for all audiences, from kids to adults, with different difficulty levels for the more or less experienced, making it fun for everyone."
His surprise is that in the first week, some MLB players have visited them. "Baseball is a growing sport, the migration from different American countries has greatly contributed to this evolution." There are more schools every day, and Rodríguez predicts that in a few years, it will become a significant sport. "I'm not the most expert batter, but I always tell customers to bend their knees and never stop watching the ball. Just like in life, if you never lose sight of your goals, with effort, you always achieve them," he advises.
He admits to being more of a spectator than a player. "I go mountain biking sometimes and play softball other times." But he acknowledges that setting up Hitball has been quite a workout. "During the renovation, my partners and I chose special mesh for the ceiling and spent many days installing them ourselves. On the first day we opened, the ball immediately tore them down. We didn't realize they were very weak and lost a week's worth of work. Still, he doesn't regret it: "You always learn from mistakes, and no matter how much we plan every detail, unforeseen events always happen. The important thing is not to fall, but to get up and keep going. We have learned that by doing things differently, we can stand out in this highly competitive market."
His intention is for all those who are unfamiliar with this sport to enjoy it. "It's a lot of fun." The sensors measure the speed and even the angle of the pitch. "They will discover that hitting the ball is not as easy as many think."